Australia Post explores new age of letter, parcel delivery with electric vehicles

Posties on their bikes or on foot could soon be a thing of the past — with Australia Post exploring a new option in letter and parcel delivery.

The postal service has begun trialling a three-wheeled electric vehicle across Brisbane that can carry letters and online purchases.

Australia Post said the new Swiss-built e-vehicles would allow posties to carry three times as many parcels as they previously did and 1,200 letters.

Queensland State Manager Angela Creedon said the eight-week pilot program was in response to a changing industry and shifting consumer needs in the Brisbane city region.

"We have chosen Coorparoo, Woolloongabba and East Brisbane [for the trial] because they're areas everyone loves online shopping, it's up about 8 per cent year on year," Ms Creedon said.

"To make jobs sustainable for our posties, we need to have more small parcels for them to deliver, so to get more parcels onto a vehicle we need something that can handle volume."

Australia Post figures show 70 per cent of its total revenue is derived from parcels, compared to 25 per cent 10 years ago.

The red and yellow, battery-operated three wheelers can carry 195 kilograms, reach speeds of 45 kilometres per hour and last up to nine hours, and recharge from flat overnight.

Postman Craig Patrick said the innovative technology included in the battery-operated vehicles made them a lot safer than motorbikes.

"I've been a postie for 15 years and when you're on your bike you can't leave it unattended, whereas as soon as I tap off this it locks everything and I can go away safely and leave it without worrying," he said.